Safilo's first-quarter net profit slumped 87 percent, hit by the consumer slowdown, and the Italian eyewear maker said it expected a difficult second quarter before some possible improvements later in the year.

Fragrance maker Inter Parfums Inc posted first-quarter profit that missed analysts' estimates, as a strong U.S. dollar took a big bite out of its sales amid a challenging retail environment, but it backed its 2009 outlook.

British mining group Anglo-American published a report on Thursday 30 April showing that iron ore is one of the only products for which production has increased in the first quarter, activity in general being strongly affected by the global slowdown.

Japan's Fast Retailing said same-store sales at its casual-clothing stores chain Uniqlo and cut-price chain g.u. rose in April, with analysts expecting the company to comfortably meet its full-year forecasts.

Hermes proved again it was resisting the crisis better than many of its rivals by posting a 3.2 percent rise in first-quarter sales on Thursday 7 May, helped by resilient demand for handbags and silk scarves.